Frequently Asked Questions

CARB Phase 2 (California Air Resources Board, Title 17 CCR Section 93120) is a California state regulation limiting formaldehyde emissions from composite wood products -- specifically hardwood plywood (HWPW), particleboard (PB), and medium-density fiberboard (MDF). It is the most stringent formaldehyde standard in North America.

TSCA Title VI (Toxic Substances Control Act, 40 CFR Part 770) is the US federal equivalent, administered by the EPA. It adopted the same emission limits as CARB Phase 2 and applies nationwide. Products sold in the US that contain composite wood must be TSCA Title VI compliant, regardless of whether they are sold in California.

Scope: Solid wood and finger-jointed solid wood mouldings without any composite wood component are not subject to CARB/TSCA Title VI. Our MDF and veneered mouldings are manufactured using CARB Phase 2 / TSCA Title VI compliant board from certified panel suppliers. Third-party lab test reports (ASTM E1333 or ASTM D6007) are available on request.

Important: CARB/TSCA compliance applies to the composite substrate, not to the finished moulding's surface coating. A painted MDF moulding is still subject to emission limits even if the paint itself is zero-VOC.

FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) is an independent, non-governmental certification body. FSC certification covers two distinct things that are often confused:

What it means in practice for buyers:

• You can resell or specify our products as "FSC-certified" only if you also hold FSC CoC certification. Without your own CoC, you may use the wood but cannot pass the FSC claim downstream.
• FSC-certified orders must be placed explicitly as FSC -- we do not automatically apply FSC tracking to every order. The FSC claim must appear on the purchase order.
• FSC certification does not affect the product's physical or mechanical properties. It is a documentation and chain-of-custody distinction, not a quality grade.
• Not all species or substrates we produce are available as FSC-certified in all volumes. Confirm availability during quoting.

Some green building rating systems (LEED v4, BREEAM) award points for FSC-certified wood. If your project has a sustainability specification, confirm the required credit pathway with your project team before ordering.

E0, E1, and E2 are European formaldehyde emission classes defined under EN 13986 (Wood-based panels for use in construction). They are measured using the perforator method (EN 120) or the gas analysis method (EN 717-1). The classes set maximum allowable formaldehyde release from the panel surface.

Relationship to CARB/TSCA: E1 and CARB Phase 2 are not equivalent -- CARB limits are generally more stringent than E1 for MDF and particleboard. A product that meets CARB Phase 2 will also meet E1, but an E1-compliant product does not automatically meet CARB Phase 2 for all panel types.

Our MDF mouldings are manufactured to E1 standard as a baseline. E0-grade substrates are available for specific orders; confirm availability and lead time during quoting. We supply test reports from accredited third-party laboratories (SGS, Intertek, or equivalent) on request.

The EU Construction Products Regulation (CPR) requires CE marking for wood-based panels used in construction. CE marking for panels requires E1 classification as a minimum. E2-classified panels cannot legally be used for interior applications in EU member states.

ISPM 15 (International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15) is an international phytosanitary standard issued by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). It governs the treatment and marking of wood packaging materials (WPM) used in international trade to prevent the spread of invasive insects and plant diseases.

Critical distinction: ISPM 15 applies to wood packaging material -- pallets, crates, dunnage, and wooden spools -- not to the wood moulding products themselves. However, if your mouldings are packed on solid wood pallets or in wooden crates, those packaging components must be ISPM 15 compliant.

Approved treatments under ISPM 15:

• HT (Heat Treatment): Core temperature of 56°C for a minimum of 30 continuous minutes.
• MB (Methyl Bromide): Still listed but being phased out in many countries due to environmental concerns. Not recommended for new packaging programs.
• DH (Dielectric Heating): Microwave-based treatment achieving 60°C core temperature for 1 minute. Accepted by some markets.

Treated wood packaging must bear the IPPC mark -- a standardized symbol showing the country code, producer code, treatment method, and certifying organization.

Market-specific requirements:

• Australia (DAFF): All wood packaging must be ISPM 15 compliant. Additionally, solid wood moulding products (not packaging) may require a phytosanitary certificate issued by GACC (General Administration of Customs of China) depending on species and treatment status.
• Canada (CFIA): ISPM 15 compliance required for all wood packaging. Moulding products themselves are generally subject to phytosanitary inspection on arrival.
• United Kingdom (APHA): Post-Brexit, the UK enforces its own version of ISPM 15 requirements. All wood packaging from China must be ISPM 15 compliant and marked.

We ship on ISPM 15 HT-treated pallets as standard for all export orders. A fumigation certificate is available on request. If your destination requires a phytosanitary certificate for the moulding products themselves (not just packaging), notify us at order placement -- the application process requires advance notice.

MDF and finger-jointed mouldings are generally exempt from phytosanitary treatment requirements for the product itself (as they are processed wood products), but this varies by destination country and species involved. Confirm with your import broker before the first shipment.

Moisture content (MC) is one of the most operationally significant quality parameters for wood mouldings. Shipping at the wrong MC for the destination climate causes warping, cupping, paint adhesion failure, and joint separation after installation. Different markets have different equilibrium moisture content (EMC) conditions based on their typical indoor climate.

How we control MC: Lumber is kiln-dried before moulding. We measure MC using a calibrated pin-type moisture meter (Lignomat or equivalent) at intake (IQC) and again before packaging (FQC). MC readings are recorded per batch and are available as part of the quality documentation package.

Honest limitation: MC can change during ocean transit if packaging is inadequate. We use moisture-barrier poly wrapping and desiccant packs in each carton for long-haul shipments. However, if containers are opened or improperly stored at the destination port, MC may shift. We recommend buyers measure MC on arrival before installation.

Finger-jointed mouldings are more sensitive to MC variation than solid wood because the adhesive bond at each joint can be stressed by differential swelling/shrinkage. For markets with high humidity variation (e.g., tropical Australia), confirm species and adhesive type suitability before ordering finger-jointed profiles.

Mixed-SKU loading allows a buyer to consolidate multiple product lines -- different profiles, species, lengths, or finishes -- into a single FCL shipment. This is operationally significant for importers and distributors who need catalogue breadth but cannot fill a container with any single SKU.

Our standard parameters:

• We can load 20-60 distinct SKUs per 40-foot container, depending on the product mix and carton dimensions.
• Each SKU is packed in clearly labelled cartons with product code, species, profile name, finish, length, and quantity. Labels are bilingual (English/Chinese) by default; English-only is available on request.
• Minimum quantity per SKU within a mixed container is typically one full production run, which varies by profile. Confirm per-SKU minimums during quoting -- we do not guarantee the same minimum for every profile in the catalogue.
• The packing list itemises every SKU individually, with carton count, net/gross weight, and dimensions per line item.

Container selection:

• 20-foot standard: Internal volume approximately 33 CBM; practical load approximately 25-28 CBM for mouldings with standard packing.
• 40-foot standard: Internal volume approximately 67 CBM; practical load approximately 55-60 CBM.
• 40-foot high-cube: Internal volume approximately 76 CBM; preferred for tall or bulky profiles.

Loading constraints buyers should know:

• Mouldings longer than 4.8 m cannot be loaded into standard 20-foot containers. 40-foot containers accept lengths up to approximately 5.8 m.
• Profiles with complex shapes or fragile projections require custom inner packaging (foam inserts or corrugated dividers) that reduces net CBM per carton.
• Painted or primed mouldings must be separated from raw/unfinished mouldings within the container to prevent surface transfer during transit.

Mixed-container orders require a confirmed purchase order for all SKUs before production begins. Partial additions after production starts cannot be accommodated without delaying the shipment. We recommend finalising the full SKU list at least 45-60 days before the required vessel departure date.

These three terms are used loosely in trade conversations but have distinct meanings that affect contract scope, intellectual property ownership, and pricing structure.

In practice, many long-term buyer relationships combine elements of all three: private-label packaging on standard profiles (Private Label) plus a small number of proprietary profiles developed to the buyer's spec (OEM) plus occasional new profile development initiated by us and offered to the buyer first (ODM). We do not require buyers to choose a single model at the outset.